h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We do what we can always do. We organize with others who feel the same way. We write letters. We urge peaceful resolution.

If bin Laden were to surrender or be captured, he would be better off in front of a judge. Juries can be emotional. I think you could find a jury that would hear the case fairly. I really don't think this is a realistic possibility. I don't think he'kll be captured alive.

This is a crime. The crime occurred within the United States. We have jurisdiction. We don't need an international court to try it.

I'm sure we will seek the death penalty. Personally, I don't care what country harbors him. If he were to surrender himself in the United Kingdom, because EU members won't extradite him, then we can invade England to take him into our custody. I don't think we'll stand for any nation harbor this criminal.

I want justice more than I want peace.

Two Bit Trigger Pumping Moron
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,
for they are subtle and quick to anger.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Invading your beat allie is a bit Extreme !!

We want to help you not be invaded by the D** amarican army

In my own opinion it should never even get to court.

What is to try?

He should find his death somewhere in the dirt, wherever he is hiding. No trail. Just swift brutal justice.

Wait. Did the BBC just censor the word "Dam"? As in Hoover Dam, Aswan Dam, dam American airforce?

If you don't have a trial, it's not justice - it's revenge. Not ideal behaviour from the supposed leader of the civilised world. Even suspected mass murderers have rights.

paul simpson self-censored: the BBC have nothing against either 'dam' or 'damn'.

Somehow I don't think the UK would refuse to extradite Bin Laden to the US... we're not that stupid, although it may look it.

what is to try - whether he actually had anything to do with it, or whether this is a case of long-distance conclusion jumping. And, more appealingly for the blood-thirsty, who he collaborated with so that they can be brought to justice as well.

France, on the other hand, is currently refusing to extradite an alleged murderer - according to something I read in National Geographic a few months back. But yeah, I'm sure the UK would do its best lap dog impression, as usual.

First,

I don't care if it is Bin Laden or someone else. Whoever it is, should be punished like I said before. The right person, but nonetheless, direct punishment.

Second,

It is justice. It is direct. There is nothing to try. The man/woman/it who is responsible has condemned themselves with the 5000 dead. There is no need to convict or try. They are already convicted by their actions.

Third,

Blood thirsty? Hardly. Someone who doesn't see any point in a trial. Yes.

Fourth,

Yes indeed, whoever it is that has collaborated with these terrorists should be punished in like form.

Fifth,

This is more than murder of 5 000 innocents, this is an act of war on our nation. War in which innocents have been harmed....

The point of a trial is to ensure that the person you punish is the person who commited the crime, and that the punishment is appropriate for the crime. If you don't have a trial, then you are likely to punish the wrong person. Even if you do have a trial, there's a significant chance.

Trials are there for the protection of the innocent, not the guilty...

Thank you. I shall be writing to Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush and I hope everyone who feels the same here will too. It's a very small and quiet voice but we must try.

Thank you. I shall be writing to Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush and I hope everyone who feels the same here will too. It's a very small and quiet voice but we must try.

Britain doing a lap dog impression.....


That's a pretty messed up. I don't remember your country being a puppet. Anything Britain does for us, they do of their own volition.

And to getting the right person...that is a laugh-able statement. As if you wounldn't get the right person.

What I DO NOT want is a long drawn out trial in which the terrorist can exploit the media, drag out the proceeding, and make himself a martyr. I want quick, direct, and immediate results. I don't want to watch it on the news for years. I have faith in my governments ability to get the right individual. I have faith that our allies will stand behind us, like they have said they would. I know they will get the right guy and I want him/her/it punished immediately.


Period. End of story.

Hat's off to your Tony Blair Britian.

I couldn't agree more.


Thank you.

I think laying of the evidence to the world would be a good thing. The idea here is that are carrying out justice.

Right now, we are going on what the government is telling us. With a trial, the press and the people would be able to evaluate the facts for themselves.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I don't think this will make it to trial. However, if it went to trial, and he was acquitted, I would accept the result.

Two Bit Trigger Pumping Moron
Jumping to conclusions is good exercise.

I don't think it will come to trial. If it _is_ Bin Laden, the thought that he would allow himself to be taken alive is laughable. So is the thought that any other terrorist leader with the capacity to plan the atrocities in America would allow himself or herself to be taken alive.

Almost equally laughable is the prospect that they might try to hide in the UK... honestly, even the new leader of the Opposition is backing the government 100% in this!

People said the same thing about Milosovic, MaW... but you may well be right. Even if they do give themselves up, they have to survive the wait until trial, which is likely to be tough in itself. Perhaps this whole discussion is academic.

> "And to getting the right person...that is a laugh-able statement. As if you wounldn't get the right person."

Your faith seems to me somewhat misplaced. Miscarriages of justice are nothing particularly unusual - and they're most likely in these kind of high-profile cases where the pressure is really on to produce someone to take the blame, no matter who. I'm sure you could find a hundred random madmen eager to take the responsibility for this act and secure their place in history forever. They're probably just putting the finishing touches to their signed confessions right about now...

I don't get it - where do you get this faith in the infallibility of your government? What makes you think that a mistake is so fantastically unlikely that you can just laugh off the possibility of assasinating someone who's got nothing to do with it? Such faith worries me.

Two things

1: May suggest everyone posting here go read http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A224623 , It is principles such as these that set civil society apart from the barbarians who are responsible for terrorism. May also say I don't think these principles exclude the option of taking military action but what they do mean is the purpose of any such action should be place those responsible in custody. Terrorism is not war it is a crime. By referring to it as war you giving the terrorist an accolade they don't deserve, war is fought between soldiers not criminals.


2: (This is the reason I made the time to post here today).
In the UK the military has two types of reserve, the first is the Territorial Forces which are much like the USA's National Guard in that they are volunteer part time servicemen. The second is ex-servicemen who remain on the reserve list until they reach the age of 47, now one of these is a friend of mine who left the army a couple of years ago, on Friday he received a letter warning him that he might be called up to releave troops on peace-keeping & humanitarian duties. The warning also included details of where he was to report if/when he is called up.

I am terrified that this is just a begining of a horrible new chapter in an awfull book. Every wack-o' sand-N you know what I mean, is going to try to out do last Tuesday , or duplicate it in foreign countries. I don't need to , but I will point out Pakistan went nuclear a few years back, and the jury isn't out on who they will buddy up with.
These are nasty times in the shadow of dirty deeds- I hope the US and friendly nations can move on this while keeping the highground.
Pray that when tomarrow comes it will have room for all of us in it.